Apocalyptic Literature: A Survey

The Literature of Apocalypse

But can any list that leaves off Pangborn's Davy be complete?  And what about Judge Dredd.  And I didn't see Susan Collins's work mentioned.  And. . . and. . . and. . . but a nice introduction to the genre.

Comments

  1. FredJanuary 20, 2010 at 1:20 PM

    My list of the five best post-apocalyptic novels, and The Road doesn't come close to any of these five.



    Russell Hoban's Riddley Walker

    Walter Miller's A Canticle for Leibowitz

    George Stewart's Earth Abides

    Kim Stanley Robinson's Wild Shore

    Bruce Stolbov's Last Fall

    ReplyDelete
  2. StevenJanuary 20, 2010 at 3:14 PM

    Dear Fred,

    I didn't read The Road as post-apocalyptic, not because it wasn't, but because it really follows in a line from McCarthy's other work and had much the same point if made somewhat differently. I thought it a terrific novel with tremendous impact, but as apocalypse literature not up there with some of these you mention. I'm also fascinated by J.G. Ballards various apocalypses--The Drowned World, The Crystal World, etc.

    But my favorite would have to be A Canticle for Leibowitz. And, of course, Davy--which for whatever reason sticks in my mind in a way that no other does.

    Thanks for your note.

    shalom,

    Steven

    ReplyDelete
  3. FredJanuary 21, 2010 at 10:36 AM

    Steven,

    _The Road_ was the first work that I had read by McCarthy, so I was and still am unaware of his themes.

    I've read JG Ballard and agree. His works always were of high quality. Have you read his _High Rise_?

    ReplyDelete
  4. StevenJanuary 21, 2010 at 12:36 PM

    Dear Fred,

    And Crash and just about anything I can get my hands on. I don't know how I feel about some of them, but they are always extremely interesting in execution if nothing else.

    shalom,

    Steven

    ReplyDelete
  5. FredJanuary 22, 2010 at 2:52 PM

    My reaction also. I will read his works, but I'm not always happy about them. Regardless of my reaction, they do stimulate my thinking processes.

    ReplyDelete

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